Six Of The Best: John Clay
Image (c) Keira Cullinane
After six years of documenting the newer wave. (a spectacle of creative renaissance under the radar in austerity), the interdependent talents in this documentary have created new discourse - and positivity.
UK Director, Editor, Author, Broadcaster and an inspiring face of the live music scenes, John Clay, is a proactive force for good. Such is his reputation and legend that “The Rock’n’Roll Superman” has been immortalised by more than one visual artist.
Interview, November 6th: TheZineUK asked John; Do you have some favourite moments of 2020?
”Getting to know my housemates better, let alone myself and the wider artistic community becoming vocal and active on human rights issues.
Finishing my novel and recording the audiobook with Ryan Robinson.”
Keeping busy, and what is next. Do you have any hopes, plans or wishes for whatever the future brings?
”Hopefully by the time this goes online we will have Trump out of office. I plan to continue my work in an antiracist book club as well as expand on the number of people who work on a social commentary series, Rantboxtv. Was great to have Monefa Walker and Caffy St Luce as guests.
I also hope people discover Living in Disneyland, a book on hyperrealism by Alexander Mazey. I still can't believe he took the time to read my book and write it's introduction.”
Continuing the recommendations, Which are the songs and albums that have warmed your ears and soul?
”Of recent years? Far too many to mention, and they all have different aims, so how can I choose? The artists in the video playlist I put together this year are all so diverse. Grand music there. Have a look at that to see why mentioning only a few bands feels wrong, and I dare not leave any out. I'll mention Stash Magnetic. We shot for four days after staff cancelled at the last minute. Leaves all over the floor, fire in the garden and Leyla Rush providing a lot of on the spot inspiration. We created a world.”
…and are there any images moving (film/video/tv) or otherwise (gallery? street art?) that have been essential in your eyes.
”I take a lot of ideas from other disciplines. Keira Cullinane shot some pics of me for a book I wrote. Lots of shadows. Mystical results. She's stops my heart.
I'd like to work with a band that would want to have a similar approach to video work I'd direct on their behalf. Totally depends upon what they are after. I'm not keen on imposing a style anymore. I appreciate the consistency of Lynch but, and for sometime, I'm a deep fan of Coppola. He isn't concerned with his putting himself in the work. Dracula and The Godfather could be the work of two different people. I love that fact. Praise the idea not the idea maker.”
Ideas have definitely enriched this year. Which campaigns, movements and or charities of any kind, have inspired you, John?
”The Black Curriculum wants to fill in the missing holes in UK schools. I have to thank Kaoru Sato, lead singer of The Dead Zoo for bringing them to my attention. I don't want kids to have any of the complexes I've fostered, through gaps in their inner understanding. Fuck that.”
Fuck that, indeed. So, what have you created in 2020 that lifts you?
”Strange videos, Rantboxtv, a book with a trans-racial side character, who should have had her own story. Still, I'm very proud of The Russian Doll Stories, my novel, and I'd been carrying it around since 2010. It took BLM kicking off, a romantic seperation and a new found love of post-structual philosophy to finish it. Perversely, the pandemic helped too. How did it lift me? The crimes of the shadow self are unnaturally weighted. Now I can fly.”
Thank you for this, John, your insights make so many people and things fly, TheZineUK included.